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Elena V Varlamov Department of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Pituitary Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Dan Alexandru Niculescu Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Swechya Banskota Department of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Pituitary Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Simona Andreea Galoiu Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Catalina Poiana Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Maria Fleseriu Department of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Pituitary Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Purpose

The number of international acromegaly related registries is increasing; however, heterogeneity of acromegaly symptoms and signs across countries is not well described. We compared clinical disease manifestations at diagnosis between two large University referral centers from two continents.

Methods

Retrospective, comparative epidemiological study of acromegaly patients at two centers: (i) C. I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, Romania (Parhon), and (ii) Pituitary Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States (OHSU) from approved data repositories was undertaken. Data were extracted from medical charts and questionnaires. Binary logistic regression analysis was undertaken for the most frequently noted symptoms and clinical signs.

Results

The study included 216 patients (87 Parhon, 129 OHSU). Age, sex, and median delay in diagnosis were similar between centers. IGF-1 index was higher in patients at Parhon (3.3 vs 2.1, P < 0.001). The top five symptoms at both centers were enlarged hands/feet, headache, arthralgia, fatigue, and irregular menses in women. A significant difference was noted for multiple signs and symptoms frequency, often > 20 percentage points between centers. Center was a predictor of many signs and symptoms, independent of acromegaly biochemical severity or disease duration.

Conclusion

We show in the first comparative study that differences in medical practice, documentation, and likely cultural differences can influence patients’ symptom(s) reporting and screening patterns in geographically different populations. Pooling data into large multicenter international registry databases may lead to loss of regional characteristics and thus a mixed overall picture of combined cohorts.

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